Blockbuster dummy spit

In week one alone, Deanne goes on the warpath, verballing Darren for painting a wall she planned to panel.

Then she gives Darren a massive spray for not consulting her about the position of a bathroom towel rail.

Five couples battle it out on the new series hosted by Scott Cam.Source:Supplied

“Darren and Dea are made for a show like The Block,” Cress says.

“You’ve got a guy who’s incredibly competitive, who has been at the top of his game in AFL. His wife is no different. She has a take-no-prisoners attitude.

“The result of that is friction. (Under the pressure of the competition) people can sometimes say and do things that they wouldn’t normally.”

“I’m pretty assertive, “ says Deanne Jolly.Source:News Limited

Deanne makes no apologies for the way she behaves towards her hubby. “I’m somebody that speaks her mind and people either like that or hate that about me,” she says.

“I’m very much ‘what you see is what you get’ and a straight shooter. I’m pretty assertive but you have to be to get things done in that (The Block) environment.

“I know Julian has made some comparisons between me and other strong women, like the twins, that have been on the show in seasons past. I’m sure I’ll get the same kind of feedback.”

Deanne and Darren have been married for eight years and have two young daughters, Scarlett, 7, and Lily, 5. The pair decided to go on The Block after renovating their three-bedroom Edwardian home in Melbourne’s Surrey Hills.

Darren is a former Sydney Swans and Collingwood player. Deanne had her own fashion label, but has developed a passion for interior design.

They face off against four other couples to create plush apartments at a massive 1980s office block in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran.

It’s twice the size of the Fans v Faves site, however the contestants still have to make do with the usual $100,000 renovation budget.

Scott Cam says the contestants have really struggled this time round.Source:Supplied

It’s a massive undertaking, Cam says. “When I walked into the Glasshouse site, I thought we might have been taking on a little too much, and I’ve been proven right,” he says.

“Our contestants struggled in the first four or five weeks. We’ve seen an unprecedented number of rooms not finished in time for reveal day.”

Deanne and Darren had to call on their parents to mind their daughters throughout the 12 weeks of competition.

“Going on The Block is tough for any couple,” Deanne says.

Deanne and Darren Jolly admit the pressures of
The Block led to arguments.Source:Supplied

“It is a pressurised situation and you throw in sleep deprivation and being away from your children and getting used to cameras in your face.

“One of the things Darren and I discussed before we came on the show was how we were going to handle conflict if there were issues.

“We decided that time was of the essence on this show so if we had issues we would talk about them and move on quickly.

“As a mum, being away from my girls was my biggest challenge. Lily was sick twice and had to go to the hospital while filming was happening. That was really hard.”

Darren admits that tiredness was his biggest enemy. That made him cranky and combative towards Deanne.

“With footy, I would easily get nine or ten hours sleep per night,” Darren says. “On The Block we were up (at) 6am, started at seven and worked until eight at night then have a quick bite to eat for dinner, clean up and then be in bed around 11pm or midnight.

“On the nights before room reveal we would be up all night painting and the only times I’ve been up all night is on big benders.

“It really started to take its toll. I didn’t function that well. You’re going to snap at each other under those circumstances.

“As much as you prepare yourself as a couple (for the pressure of competing on The Block) it is really difficult. There were times — and I’m sure they will be played on camera — where Dea snapped at me and I snapped back and we had arguments.

“Under the fatigue and the deadline of finishing a room, if one mistake happens … it becomes really difficult.”